Celery might be good fresh with peanut butter, but it is also a great addition to soups and stews, and a great source of fiber for your gut! There’s a lot more to this vegetable than originally meets the eye, but first up is learning how to pick out good celery, so that you can optimize your experience. This post is all about how to select and store celery, in order to be able to enjoy them to their fullest.
(This post is an excerpt from The Produce Nerd’s Grocery Guide, with input provided by Lakeside Organic Gardens. You can learn more about the Grocery Guide, which covers this information for 55 different produce items, with input from 26 crop-specific companies HERE.)
What to look for when picking the best quality celery?
- Celery should be firm, with an overall green color. Tops should look fresh, not dried. Sometimes the top leaves will have blight, this is not harmful and can be cut out. The stalks should be fresh and firm with no signs of pest holes.
Are there any common issues that are specifically caused by bad grocery store handling?
- A common problem is grocery stores don’t move product fast enough. Produce with leaves can yellow, dry up or in wet veg, start to get soggy and mildew. We harvest, pack, cool and ship within a couple days to ensure fresh organic produce. Temperature control, too cold or not enough or too much moisture are common store handling problems.
What is the best way to store celery at home?
- Celery is best stored in the refrigerator.
- Keep celery moist, either wrapped tightly in foil or cut up and submerged in water.
- Do not freeze cauliflower.
What is your favorite way to eat and prepare celery?
- With peanut butter. There is nothing better!
- From The Produce Nerd: I like to add celery into soups and vegetable mixes. When cooked down, the celery is easily hidden amongst other food, so it’s an easy vegetable to add in without your husband or kids (who swear they don’t like it) knowing!
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